Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration – Loading initialization program
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-30
2001-01-30
Grant, William (Department: 2787)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
Loading initialization program
C710S120000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182213
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the use of the ROM BIOS in a personal computer. More particularly, the present invention relates to the manner in which the ROM BIOS is integrated into or attached to the computer system.
BACKGROUND
Over the past fifteen years, continual advances in microprocessor technology have pushed the performance of personal computers to increasingly higher levels. New applications for personal computers have required significant processing power, and also have required significant amounts of data to be transferred between the computer's central processing unit and peripheral devices. This has prompted attempts to improve the manner in which peripheral devices communicate with the processor. And as a result, many changes have been made to the manner in which peripheral devices and the like are attached to the processor.
Normally, peripheral devices communicate with the processor through some form of an expansion bus. One of the earliest bus architectures used for personal computers is what has become known as the AT Attachment or the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus. Over the years, however, additional expansion bus architectures have been developed, some of which have become part of mainstream personal computing. These additional architectures include IBM's Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, and the Extended ISA bus (EISA) bus. More recently, local bus architectures, such as the VL bus architecture and the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus architecture, have become a standard feature in modern personal computers.
As the evolution of expansion busses has progressed, peripheral devices once attached to the ISA bus (or some other legacy bus) have been moved to more modern and higher performance buses, such as the PCI bus. For example, it is now common for the video controller and the hard drive controller, once found on the ISA bus, to be attached to the higher-performance PCI bus.
Nevertheless, most modern computers still typically include the legacy ISA bus for accommodating other older, legacy devices. Although many peripherals are no longer attached to the ISA bus, one common device that does remain on the ISA bus is the ROM BIOS. This device has remained on the ISA bus for a number of reasons, including the fact that moving it to another bus is not easily accomplished. Thus, a need exists for moving the ROM BIOS to a different bus.
SUMMARY
In some embodiments of the present invention, the ROM BIOS is relocated to another bus within the system architecture. For systems where the ROM BIOS is the last remaining device on the ISA bus, this move potentially eliminates the need for the ISA bus and/or associated circuitry. Thus, the present invention may allow peripheral devices to be consolidated on a smaller number of busses, and potentially, on a single bus. This consolidation may reduce the cost and complexity of personal computers. In addition, relocating the ROM BIOS to an alternate point within the system may in some circumstances improve performance.
For example, in one embodiment, the present invention is a computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory bus that includes a memory data bus, a BIOS device that is connected to the memory data bus, and core logic that is connected to the central processing unit and the memory bus. The core logic controls memory operations involving the central processing unit, and controls BIOS operations involving the central processing unit and the BIOS device over the memory data bus. Additional embodiments and features, and the nature of the present invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims, and to the several drawings herein.
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Intel data sheets for 28F200BX-T/B and 28F002BX-T/B, at least as early as Jun. 4, 1997.
Grant William
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Micron Electronics Inc.
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